by fcapoffice | Aug 7, 2018 | FCAP Blog, Thought for the Work Week
In Hebrews 12:1-2 the Apostle Paul writes, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Paul also writes in 1 Timothy 6:11-12, “…pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called….”
Both in Scripture and in our lives today, we have examples of men and woman who have lived by these truths. Many have finished the race and entered the gates of heaven hearing the words, “Well done, My good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). Here is a question today for us all to ponder…Are we following that example in our daily lives, in our workplace and wherever God places us?
This thought was written by the FCAP staff in loving memory of Joseph O. Ivey, Founder of the FCAP Ministry. Joe entered his eternal rest on July 30, 2018. He faithfully lived a life characterized by the verses above and has been a consistent example throughout the airlines of the world and to all who knew him.
by fcapoffice | Jul 28, 2018 | IN THE JETSTREAM
We often use the word “workforce” to describe a number of employees working together to carry out a specific activity in a company. Together their cooperative efforts accomplish a bigger purpose than our individual responsibilities. For instance, a flight leaving Atlanta and going to Munich requires a coordination of employees and equipment. This workforce is made up of people in flight operations, ground people, mechanics, airport/gate agents, baggage handlers, and finally cabin and flight deck crews, all of which work together to carry out this purpose.
Do you realize that there are also other forces constantly working around you in your workplace? I don’t mean the company workforce, but spiritual forces that are trying to form your attitude and actions toward a purpose quite contrary to the Christian faith? It can happen when employees around you join together to show their disgust over the company, toward a supervisor, or maybe toward an employee with a troubling life. Their joint coordination is like an energizing force around you creating a general attitude or response toward a person or a company policy. Some Christians think that if they just ignore such things, or distance themselves, it will eventually go away and not affect them. But this is furthest from the truth.
Part of God’s design for maturing us as Christians is to allow our faith to be tested in a world with problems and evil (1 Peter 1:6-7). Jesus told us that we are to be His light in a dark world. However, our confrontation with these adverse forces often reveals our own weakness and vulnerability, and our tendency to become angry or fearful. It is at this point that God is calling us to come to Him by faith at that moment, so we can experience the complete sufficiency of His power at work in us. God’s strategy in teaching us to deal with the adverse forces around us is not by ignoring or joining them. Instead, He alerts us to their danger and their persuasive pull, and He uses our encounters with them to draw us to trust Him and rely on His directions and strength. Learning to rely on Him in the midst of our difficulties and problems allows us to experience the transforming work of His greater power at work in us, one that restrains us from returning wrong to those who wrong us, and compels us to do what is right even when we’ve been wronged. Learning to rely on God’s power and Word to direct us in life’s circumstances will produce attitudes and actions that conform us to His ways (1Thessalonians 2:13). Only then can our lives become a sharp contrast to the forces around us at work.
“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13
So, what forces are you allowing to influence you at work? Are they the ones that drive people to complain, want more, and be less content and more self centered? Or are you being compelled by the love and forgiveness of God, which has set you free from the bondage of the self-serving life and gives you a motivation that exceeds any company incentive? We trust that you are experiencing the compelling power of God working in your life. (PMC)
“You are from God….and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
With His resources,
The FCAP Staff
by fcapoffice | Jul 28, 2018 | Domestic, Fellowship, International, Thought for the Work Week
Every day, challenging things happen to each of us, wherever in the world we are. The extra flight attendant is a no-show, so now we are delayed waiting for a reserve to be called out. The emails are down, so now we cannot communicate in a timely fashion. A loved one is ill, and our thoughts are with this dear one.
Every time, there is opportunity to pray to God for His resolution to be accomplished through each of us. Here we see the partial crew going out to breakfast together and one of them says grace before the meal…here is a good time to make phone calls and say, “God bless you” at the end of the call…here is a time to praise God that He will provide devoted doctors to help heal our ill friend or co-worker.
Every chance we have to bring our cares to the Lord and leave them with Him to will and to act will honor Him and point others to Jesus as Lord of our lives. From a human perspective, these are real problems, yet for Christians, we see an opening to be His light in the darkness. Join us, looking to Him, in every moment. (JMA) Consider: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6).
This thought is written by Jenni Ashmore, FCAP Office and Ministry Manager.
by fcapoffice | Jul 19, 2018 | Thought for the Work Week
We are told in God’s Word to be, “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger” (James 1:19). However, if we are honest with ourselves, our natural tendency, when conversation with a person turns into conflict, is to go in the opposite direction. We naturally want to speak up, state our position, and defend ourselves in order to win the argument and be right, or just walk away with a smug self-righteous silence. Our Lord’s example showed us something different… He was willing to endure hardship in order to make things right between us, something that we did not have any interest in doing. Now if He wanted to…He could have just told us how right and holy He was and how wrong and sinful we were…but He did more than that. Our faith in God at the workplace will not shine by how well we can judge people’s wrong, but by how well we are willing to be patient, forgiving and seek to help them. (PMC) Consider: “Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4). “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13)
(This thought was written by Paul M. Curtas, General Director of FCAP.)
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“Our work becomes worship as we present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God in the details of our work everyday.” (PMC).
by fcapoffice | Jul 16, 2018 | Thought for the Work Day
Hackers have become the greatest fear of governments and businesses around the world. Individuals, on the other hand, are not just afraid of hackers, but they are also afraid of identity theft. We often see commercials for companies that want to get paid to protect the identity of people. The world acts as if this is something new. Adam and Eve’s identities were stolen when the devil made them believe that wisdom was in food. The devil even tried to hack into God’s system by asking Jesus to worship him (Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus said the elect cannot be hacked, nor can his or her identity be stolen. “For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). Jesus Christ guaranties that those who trust in Him are safe from spiritual hackers and identity thieves. Consider this: “Therefore, it is also contained in the Scripture, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a Chief Cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame’ ” (1 Peter 2:6).
(This thought was written by Monix Mathieu, FCAP Leadership and Group Development.)
If you would like to receive by email the Thought for the Work Week, click here.
“Our work becomes worship as we present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God in the details of our work everyday.”(PMC)
